Automatic starting mechanism



April 18, 1933. F. T. CHRISTIAN 1,904,202

AUTOMATIC STARTING MECHANI SM Filed April 28, 1931 11v VENTOR Jim/o 0'.

' TTORNEY duplication filed his invention relates to automatic startmechanism and more particularly a device for protecting the starting mechanism and consei the source of electrical energy case the engine tails to start after the ng motor circuit has beenenergized tor determined length oil it is object oil the present invention to provide an automatic starting mechanism embodying a novel means for causing the starting circuit to be opened alter the same has been energized tor a predetermined lei gth of time. 7 q

Another object is to provide such a device in which the automatic opening of the starting circuit is secured by means of a heatresponsive device having a heating element which is energized concomitantly with the energization of the starting circuit.

A further object is to provide such a dev1ce which involves no additional switches or brakes in the circuits nor the use of special auxiliary controlling circuits.

Another object is to furnish such a device on H which will produce an audible indication to the operator of the failure of the engine to start and remind him to disconnect the automatic starting mechanism before taking steps to remedy the inoperative condition of the engine.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description taken 1n connectlon with the accompanying drawing in which the figure is a semi-diagrammatic illustration of a preferred embodiment of the invention, the automatic starting switch elements being shown in elevation and partly in vertical section.

lln the drawing there is illustrated a starting motor circuit, including a battery 10, one terminal of which is grounded at 11 and the other terminal of which is connected by a lead 12 to an automatic starting mechanism comprising a starting switch having a stationary element l3 connected to the lead 12, a second stationary element 14 and a movable insulated bridging element 16. The stationary element 14 is connected through a lead 17 to a single turn coil 18 which in turn is connected by a QFMGE no rmcnrnn coirlead 19 a starting motor Sill which is grounded 21 in order to complete the starting circuit.

The movable element 16 of the starter switch is mounted by suitable insulating means on a magnetic plunger 23 which is nor mally maintained in its upper position by means such as a spring 24 but which may be drawn down to close the starting switch by a solenoid 2'. Said solenoid is included in a control circuit comprising the battery 10, lead 12, amrneter A, manual switch 27 (which may as indicated he the ignition switch of the internal combustion engine) lead 28, solenoid 26 lead 29, llXedl contact 3l, movable contact 32, spring strip 33 and ground connection The spring strip 33 is arranged to normally hold the contact 32 against the fixed contact 31 whereby closure of the manual switch 27 by the operator will cause energization of the control circuit to close the starting switch.

Means are provided tor automatically opening the control circuit when the engine starts, for holding said circuit open as long as the engine is self-operative and for delaying the closing thereof until a. predetermined time after the engine has come substantially to rest. As illustrated, these means include a wedge-shaped weight member 36 mounted on the end of the spring strip 33 in the path of movement of a roller 37. Said roller is mounted on the end of a lever 38, pivoted at 39 and having a pin 41 at an intermediate point thereof projecting laterally between a pair of flanges 42 and 43, on a movable magnetic relay plunger 44. A voltage coil 46 and a generator coil 47 are arranged to surround the lower part of the relay plunger 44 and when energized attract the same downwardly. The voltage coil 46 is connected at one end by a lead 48 to the stationary starting switch member 14, and is grounded at its other end at 49. Generator coil 47 is connected at one end by lead 51 to a generator G and is also grounded at its other end at 49. Relay plunger 44 is normally retained in its upper position against a spacing sleeve 52 by means such as a spring 53 whereby the lever 38 is maintained as illustrated out of contact with the weight member 36 so that the contact 32 normally rests against contact 31.

The lead 19 to the starting motor SM is provided with a contact member 54 which is mounted upon the free end of a heat-responsive member 56, suitably insulated therefrom as indicated, the oppositeend of said heatresponsive member being fixedly mounted in a. suitable manner as indicated at 57. A heating element 58 is arranged to surround the heat-responsive member 56. This heating element is connected at one end to the motor lead 19 as indicated at 59 and isgrounded at the other end as at 61.

A fixed contact member 62 is mounted in any suitable manner adjacent the movable contact member 54 and is connected by a lead 63 to the lead 17 from the starting motor switch, the arrangement being such that when the heat-responsive member 56 is heated sufliciently to bring contact 54 into engagement with contact 62, the single turn coil 18 is shorted by the connection through said contacts and the lead 63.

In the normal operation of the device, closure of the ignition switch 27 closes the control circuit, thus causing the solenoid 26 to close the starting switch 13, 16, 14, completing the starting circuit through the single turn coil 18 and lead 19 to the starting motor SM whereby the starting motor is caused to crank the engine. During this time, the voltage coil 46 is energized by reason of its connection to the starting switch member 14, but the heavy current traversing the single turn coil 18 holds the plunger 44 in its upper position. This holding effect is preferably controlled by means such as an adjustable magnetizable pole piece 64 within the spacing member 52.

If the engine becomes self-operative after a reasonable amount of cranking, the load on the starting motor is thereupon relieved and the consequent reduction of the current through the single turn coil 18 together with the increase of voltage drop through the voltage coil 46 enables the latter to overcome the effect of the single turn coil 18 and the spring 53 and draw the plunger 44 downwardly causing the lever 38 to carry the roller 37 into engagement with the weight member 36 and bend the spring strip 33 backward sufficiently to move the contact 32 away from contact 31. The consequent opening of the control circuit causes the deenergization of the solenoid 26 thus releasing the starting switch plunger 23 whereby the spring 24 operates to open the starting switch. The relay plunger 44 is not immediately released, however, since the voltage coil 46 is traversed by a slight amount of current generated by the starting motor s inning by momentum in its residual field, the current being sufiicient to hold the plunger 44 against its pole piece 66 until the starting motor has come substantially to rest.

aoeaoa Before the voltage coil 46. becomes entirely deene-rgized, the generator G which is driven from the engine, builds up sufiicient voltage to energize the generator coil 47 and retain the relay plunger 44 in its lower position, thus holding the contact 32 out of engagement with t e contact 31 as long as the engine is self-operative.

If the engine should stall for any reason, the generator coil 47 becomes deenergized and the spring 53 raises the relay plunger 44, releasing the weight member 36 which vibrates for a predetermined length of time due to its pendulous mounting on the spring strip 33 thus giving the engine time to come completely to rest before the contact 32 makes efiective engagement with the contact 31. When the vibration ceases and the contact 32 comes to rest against the contact 31, the starting operation is repeated.

During this cranking operation, the heating element 58 is energized by reason of its connection to the motor lead 19, and imparts its heat to the heat-responsive member 56 causing it to be deflected in a direction to move contact 54 into engagement with contact 62.

When the engine becomes self-operative within a normal length of time, the heat-responsive member 56 does not become sufficiently heated to close the contacts 54, 62, and the starting operation takes place as above described. If however, the engine should fail to start owing to improperfunctional conditions or to a jamming of the starting gearing, the heat-responsive member 56 will after a predetermined time cause contact 54 to engage contact 62 thereby shorting and deenergizing the single turn coil 18. Voltage coil 46 is thereupon allowed to attract the plunger 44 downward, causing the contact 32 to be moved out of engagement with contact 31, breaking the control circuit and releasing the starting switch. As soon as the startin switch opens, however, the voltage coil 46 1s deenergized and the spring 53 then returns the relay plunger 44 to its upper position, causing the starting switch to be closed again as soon as the vibrator contact 32 comes to rest against contact 31. The starting switch plunger 23 and relay plunger 44 are thus caused to continuously reciprocate at short time intervals determined by the vibrator time delay element 33. This produces a operative condition of the engine has been remedied it is thus only necessary for the operator to close the ignition switch 27 whcro noon the automatic starting mechanism will be caused to operate in the usual manner.

Although but one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail, other embodiments will become apparcut to those skilled in this art and it will be understood that various changes may be made in the proportions and arrangements of the parts here shown without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

vVhat is claimed is:

l. in an automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, starting circuit including a source of energy, a starting motor and a starting switch for controlling said motor, opposed electromagnetic elements respectively to cause the switch to be held closed as long as the engine is being cranked, and to be opened when the engine starts, and means for shorting said electromagnetic holding element the starting motor has been energized prede- 1 ;th of time. 2. in an QulOD'ldillC starting mechanism ior internal combustion engines, starting circuit inclut a source of energy, a sta motor switch "for contro said motor, me t us energized by current ersing one circuit for causing said switch to be held closed until the en ine starts d means for rendering said hold ng means inoperative after the starting motor has been energized tor predetermined time. 8. an'automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a starting circuit incl g a source of energy, a starting motor and starting switch for controlling said motor, means including an electromagnetic element energized by current traversing the starti circuit for causing said switch to be held closed until the engine starts, said electromagnetic element being weakened by the reduction in starting current when the engine starts so as to allow the starting switch to be opened, and thermostatic means for causing said electromagnetic element to allow the switch to be opened after the starting motor has been energized for a predetermined time,

ln an automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a starting cir cuit including a source 0;? electrical energ a starting motor and a starting switch for controlling said motor, means for actuating said starting switch including an electromagnetic element and a control circuit therefor including the source of electrical energy and a control switch, means energized concomitantly with the starting circuit tending to open said control switch, means energized simultaneously therewith for holding said &

control switch closed, and means for rendering said holding means inoperative after the starting circuit has been energized a predetermined length of time.

5. in an automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a starting circuit including a source of electrical energy, a starting motor and a starting switch for controlling said motor, means for dctuating said starting switch including an electromagnetic element and a control circuit therefor including the source of electrical energy and a control switch, electromagnetic means energized concomitantly with the starting circuit tending to open said control circuit, electromagnetic means energized simultaneously therewith for holding said control switch closed, means for shorting said electromagnetic holding means alter the starting circuit has been energized a predo termined length or time.

ti. In an automatic starting mecha ism internal combustion engines, a sta 1ngcircuit including a source of electrical energy, starting motor and starting switch controlling said motor, means for actuating said sterting'switch including an electro ma netic element a control circuit there for including the source of electrical energy and a control switch, electromagnetic means energized concomitantly with the starting circuit tending to open said control switch, electr -inagnetic means energized simultaneously therewith tor holding said control switch closed and thermostatic means energized from said starting circuit for rendering said holding means inoperative after a predetermined time interval,

7. in an automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a starting circuit including a source of electrical energy, a starting motor and a starting switch for controlling said motor; means for actuating said starting switch including an electromagnetic element and a control circuit therefor including the source of electrical energ and a control switch; a movable element :tor operating said control switch, a solenoid energized from said starting circuit tending to move said element in a direction to open said control switch, a solenoid traversed by the starting current for holding said element in position to close said control switch, and thermostatic means energized from said starting circuit for shorting the holding solenoid after the starting circuit has been closed a predetermined time.

8. in an automatic starting circuit including a source of energy, a starting motor and a starting switch for controlling said motor, opposed electromagnetic elements adapted respectively to cause the switch to be held closed as long as the engine is being cranked and to be opened when the engine starts,

Elli

and means for rendering said holding element inoperative after the starting motor has been energized a predetermined length of time.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

FRANK T. CHRISTIAN. 

